English

Pronunciation

Noun

Translations

Cutting is the separation of a physical object,
or a portion of a physical object, into two portions, through the
application of an acutely directed force. An implement commonly
used for cutting is the knife or in medical cases the
scalpel. However, any
sufficiently sharp object is capable of cutting if it has a
hardness sufficiently
larger than the object being cut, and if it is applied with
sufficient force. Cutting also describes the action of a saw which removes material in the
process of cutting.

Cutting is a compressive
and shearing phenomenon,
and occurs only when the total stress
generated by the cutting implement exceeds the ultimate strength
of the material of the object being cut. The simplest applicable
equation is stress = force/area: The stress generated by a cutting
implement is directly proportional to the force with which it is
applied, and inversely proportional to the area of contact. Hence,
the smaller the area (i.e., the sharper the cutting implement), the
less force is needed to cut something.

When referring to propagating plants, cutting
is one of the methods that can be used. It involves cutting a part
of the plant typically a healthy shoot, with sharp and sterile
scissors or any other cutting device, and then placing the removed
part in water. Some cuttings do not require water. Certain shoots
when cut are able to grow when placed in vermiculite or potting
soil. However, the former is the easiest to do as most shoots when
cut from the main plant need time to grow roots, and then they are
able to be transferred to potting soil.